New scientific research in a commercial dairy herd has shown how feeding a microbial supplement can increase milk production and liveweight gain.
Developed by Terragen, MYLO is an easy-to-use liquid feed supplement that contains a proprietary blend of live microbes, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus buchneri and Lactobacillus paracasei to improve cow health and productivity.
The study — published in international, peer-reviewed journal Animals — involved 150 milking cows in Harrisville, Queensland, tracking their performance over 16 months.
“This study is the first to investigate the effect of uninterrupted supplementation of a Lactobacillus direct-fed microbial (MYLO) over two lactation cycles in a commercial setting,” Terragen chief operating officer and veterinarian Dr Joss West said.
“Using a commercial property with university collaboration meant we could reliably test the product in conditions which are comparable to what farmers would see in their own herds.”
The Holstein cows were fed a partial mixed ration during the day and grazing pasture at night; 75 of them were also given a daily 10ml dose of MYLO Cow.
The researchers recorded milk production and liveweight gain from September 2021 to January 2023, starting in mid-lactation of first production year (2021-22), through the dry period and into late lactation in the second production year (2022-23).
The research found the benefits of MYLO really started to show after calving.
In the second production year, cows fed the liquid feed supplement produced an average of 0.39 litres per day more milk than those that were not.
“That’s a three per cent increase in the first 100 days in milk and a predicted increase in milk production of 258 litres per cow over a full lactation for the cows supplemented with MYLO,” Dr West said.
“The results show that using microbials can have a significant impact on production, improving profitability on farm.”
The cows fed MYLO also gained more liveweight, an average of 19.4kg, over the study period. In the critical period after calving, these cows lost less weight than the control group, maintained a better body condition and recovered bodyweight sooner.
“Cows face significant metabolic stress after calving and energy demands are greatly increased due to the start of lactation,” Dr West said.
“Body condition management is key to ensuring the cow has enough energy stores to contribute to increased milk production as well as recovering from calving and it’s well documented that body condition also contributes to reproductive performance.
“We believe our microbes enhance ruminal digestion, ensuring the cow is getting the most from her diet.”
Both the control group of cows which received no additive, and the group fed MYLO, were managed in the same way, with milk yield and liveweight recorded daily.
The research, ‘The Effect of a Direct Fed Microbial on Liveweight and Milk Production in Dairy Cattle’ was funded by Terragen and published in the peer-reviewed journal Animals 2024, 14 1092.